AstraZeneca Announces RECENTIN(TM) as Global Trademark for Novel Cancer Treatment, AZD2171

Alderley Park, England (ots/PRNewswire) -

- For Non-US Healthcare Press Only

AstraZeneca today announced RECENTIN(TM) as the global trademark
for AZD2171, its oral, highly potent and selective vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling inhibitor. AZD2171 is
currently in Phase II/III development for advanced non-small cell
lung cancer (NSCLC) and advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) - as well as
a wide-ranging signal search programme in other tumours.

"The announcement of a brand name represents a key milestone in
the development of AZD2171," commented Ian Triggs, Global Brand
Strategy Director for AZD2171.

Dr Nick Botwood, Global Medical Director for AZD2171, added,
"Pre-clinical data shows this compound is a potent suppressor of
angiogenesis - an established approach in anti-cancer treatment. More
importantly, early clinical trial data has also shown encouraging
anti-tumour activity with AZD2171 and a side effect profile that
appears to be predictable and manageable. The ongoing trial programme
will be important to establish how AZD2171 may add to the treatment
options currently available to patients."

VEGF is a key driver of angiogenesis - the formation of new blood
vessels. By inhibiting VEGF receptors, AZD2171 hinders angiogenesis,
thus preventing the blood supply that tumours need to grow and
spread. There are three VEGF receptors involved in tumour
angiogenesis, (VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3). AZD2171 inhibits all
three,(1) in particular VEGFR-2, the predominant receptor through
which VEGF exerts its effect on angiogenesis.

RECENTIN(TM) is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of Companies.

Notes to Editors

Ongoing clinical trials with AZD2171

The anti-tumour efficacy of AZD2171 is being evaluated in an
extensive ongoing clinical development programme including studies in
lung and colorectal cancer:

Lung cancer

Lung cancer remains the biggest cause of cancer death worldwide.
Over 1.35 million new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed every year
and nearly 1.2 million people die as a result of this disease - more
than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined.(2)

A Phase II/III study, BR-24, being coordinated by the National
Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC), is comparing the efficacy of
AZD2171 plus 'doublet' chemotherapy (paclitaxel and carboplatin) to
'doublet' chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly reported cancer
worldwide, with around 945,000 new cases and 492,000 deaths
annually.(3) It is ranked second in terms of both incidence and
mortality in more developed countries.(3)

The Horizon Study Programme is ongoing to evaluate AZD2171 in
patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

- Horizon III is a Phase II/III randomised, double-blind,
international multi-centre investigation of AZD2171 in combination
with FOLFOX compared to bevacizumab (Avastin(R)) in combination with
FOLFOX, in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal
cancer.

- Horizon II, a randomised, double-blind Phase III study will
compare AZD2171 plus standard chemotherapy with standard chemotherapy
alone in patients with first line advanced colorectal cancer.

- Horizon I, a Phase II study, will evaluate AZD2171 in
combination with FOLFOX compared to bevacizumab in combination with
FOLFOX, in the second-line treatment of patients with metastatic
colorectal cancer.

About AZD2171

- AZD2171 is a once-daily, orally available, highly potent and
selective VEGF signalling inhibitor that inhibits all three VEGF
receptors.(1) The preclinical profile of AZD2171 indicates that it
has the potential to be the 'best in class' VEGF signalling
inhibitor.(1)

- AZD2171 has shown encouraging signs of anti-tumour activity in a
clinical development programme, which has included over 700 patients
to date.

- Phase I data indicate that AZD2171 is generally well tolerated,
with the most common dose related adverse events being diarrhoea,
hoarseness, headache and hypertension.(4)

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged
in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of
prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services.
It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with
healthcare sales of US$23.95 billion and leading positions in sales
of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory,
oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.

References

1. Wedge SR, Kendrew J, Hennequin LF, Valentine PJ, Barry ST,
Brave SR, Smith NR, James NH, Dukes M, Curwen JO, Chester R, Jackson
JA, Boffey SJ, Kilburn LL, Barnett S, Richmond GH, Wadsworth PF,
Walker M, Bigley AL, Taylor ST, Cooper L, Beck S, Jurgensmeier JM,
Ogilvie DJ. Cancer Research 2005, 65: 4389-4400.

2. Ferlay J, Bray F, Pisani P, et al. GLOBOCAN 2002: Cancer
Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide IARC CancerBase No. 5.
version 2.0, IARCPress, Lyon, 2004.

3. Stewart BW and Kleihues P (Eds): World Cancer Report.
IARCPress. Lyon. 2003.

4. Drevs J, Medinger M, Mross K, Zirrgiebel U, Strecker R, Unger
C, Puchalski TA, Fernandes N, Roberston J, Siegert P. Proceedings
from ASCO 2005, Abs 3002.

ots Originaltext: AstraZeneca
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
For further information, please contact: Peter Edwards, AstraZeneca,
Tel: +44-(0)1625-232685, Mobile: +44-(0)-7747-118-498,
Peter.s.edwards@astrazeneca.com; Mary Barrington-Ward; ShireHealthPR,
Tel: +44-(0)-20-7108-6066, Mobile: +44-(0)-7968-488-468,
Mary.barringtonward@shirehealthPR.com


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